Export amounted to 16.81 billion U.S. dollars in the May 1-10 period, up 16.5 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export increased 16.5 percent in the 10 days. The monthly outbound shipment kept growing for the seventh straight month through April.
Semiconductor export spiked 52.0 percent to 3 billion dollars, while automotive shipment expanded 8.9 percent to 1.46 billion dollars.
Shipment for oil products, steel, mobile devices, precision machinery, home appliances and computers all advanced in double figures in the 10-day period.
Import retreated 6.7 percent from a year earlier to 17.36 billion dollars in the first 10 days of May, sending the trade deficit to 0.55 billion dollars.
Crude oil import gained 9.9 percent, while those for machinery, semiconductor equipment, coal and cars declined in double digits.
Latest comments